To All Cardiff Freecycle Members,
 
 We have had an increase in the number of messages being rejected lately so 
 here is a simple step by step guide to get you going as we fear a lot of 
 people are just not reading the Welcome File when they join. It can also 
 be a refresher guide for those who have had a break from us and have 
 come back.
 
 ___________________
 
 1. SUBJECT LINE FORMAT.
 
 The following MUST be adopted for ALL messages sent to the group, 
 there are no exceptions so please don't ask as refusal sometimes offends.
 
 You may use one of 4 prefixs: Offered, Taken, Wanted, Received;
 
 Then follows a brief description of the item offered;
 
 Then your area. If you are in Cardiff, the area of the city must be detailed.
 
 EXAMPLE:
 
 OFFERED: baby highchair (Llandaff)
 
 then once the item has been taken:
 
 TAKEN: baby highchair (Llandaff)
 
 If you are the recipient of the item you can offer your thanks 
 via personal email.
 
 or
 
 WANTED: baby highchair (Pentwyn)
 
 then if you are lucky enough to receive one:
 
 RECEIVED: baby highchair (Pentwyn)
 
 A Received message can only follow a successful Wanted request and 
 if you are lucky enough to be offered your requested item, please 
 send in a Received message to the group. 
 
 We average 4000 messages a month and by only allowing a Received 
 message to follow a Wanted seemed the best way to cut down the messages.
 
 If you are requesting an item and can collect from areas outside 
 of where you live, these must be detailed in the main message.
 
 ___________________
 
 2. WANTED MESSAGES
 
 You may only request the same item ONCE per calendar month. So if 
 you ask for a fridge on Febuary 25th, you cannot request it again 
 until approx March 24th.
 
 Each member is limited to 2 requests per week.
 
 Each message can only contain one item or items of the same 
 group such as 'outdoor toys' or 'fishing equipment' as long 
 as you don't list in detail numerous items specifically require.
 
 ___________________
 
 3. WHATS ALLOWED AND WHATS NOT
 
 Anything that would be otherwise be destined for a landfill site 
 is welcome on Cardiff Freecycle. 
 
 STRICTLY NO PETS.
 
 NO ADVICE, VOUCHER CODES ETC.
 
 Items that are not landfill related, including the ones mentioned 
 above may be posted to our sister group, The Cardiff Freecycle Cafe 
 which can be found by going to:
 
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cardifffreecyclecafe/
 
 It's a great little group so come along, as for some advice, tell 
 everyone about an up and coming event or just for a general 
 chit chat, pop in!
 
 ___________________
 
 4. VOLUME OF EMAILS
 
 If you are a bit overwhelmed by the volume of emails you are getting 
 since joining us please take a look at the following link to help 
 you reduce your emails:
 
 http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/MJ2NSrSe1gQB-v5jAc_tujAtJjvFJ8evM1ZhVzR7KTGKczNeZxeJXeTR4zsv96f_XsOi6X5YK9FOHfaQnPlIQw/Email%20Delivery%20Options
 
 ___________________
 
 5. ARRANGING COLLECTION
 
 If you arrange a collection be it a Wanted or Offered item, and you can 
 not make the agreed time & date, please let the person know in advance 
 if possible. If that's not possible could you please email/phone the member 
 as soon as it is possible for you to do so. While we understand that in 
 some cases contact cannot be made quickly, we would advise a period of 
 no more than 48hours to contact and explain why you couldn't make it.
 
 If you simply change your mind, PLEASE email the member to let them 
 know so they can re-offer the item as the see fit.
 
 ___________________
 
 6. LOST AND FOUND
 
 After having to reject a fair number of messages latley saying 
 they have found something or lost something we are now going to 
 let these messages out on the main group instead of directing 
 you to the Cafe.
 
 The same format will apply.
 
 eg:
 
 FOUND: keys (Ely)
 LOST: cat (Grangetown)
 
 And if you get an item you have lost using this group please 
 let everyone know by posting a FOUND message.
 
 One thing that we ask though is to not give a lot of detail about 
 the item if you are posting a FOUND message. Just a breif 
 description of what it is. Let the 'loser' explain something 
 in particular about the item so you know it's going to the 
 rightful owner.
 
 We figuered that this is such a huge group that our success 
 rate should reflect that.
 
 ___________________
 
 As always, you can contact us with any feedback the usual 
 way by emailing
 
 cardifffreecycle-owner@yahoogroups.com
 
 Kind Regards,
 
 on behalf of our moderators & us, 
 
 Lisa Ward & Dean Elson
 Cardiff Freecycle & Cafe Co-Owners
 
 
QUICK GUIDE TO CORRECT SUBJECT LINE FORMAT
ON CARDIFF FREECYCLE:
OFFER: item (location)
TAKEN: item (location)
WANTED: item (location)
RECEIVED: item (location)
Please include your location in your posts
Please don't use NEEDED, PENDING, FREE, PROMISED, PRAISE, etc!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~